What does Nikolai mean?
Nikolai is a Slavic form of Nicholas, “victory of the people.”
What does Bogdan mean?
Bogdan means “given by God” in the Slavic languages.
Nikolai vs Bogdan
Which is more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Bogdan today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 34 named Bogdan.
| Nikolai | Bogdan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Victory of the people | Given by God |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | nee-koh-LY | BOG-dahn |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1960 | 1954 |
| Peak year | 2016 (639) | 2024 (37) |
| In 2025 | 469 | 34 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Nikolai
Bogdan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Nikolai | Bogdan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,057 | 189 |
| 2010s | 5,060 | 249 |
| 2000s | 1,632 | 178 |
| 1990s | 733 | 89 |
| 1980s | 291 | 10 |
| 1970s | 202 | 17 |
| 1960s | 52 | 37 |
| 1950s | 0 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikolai or Bogdan more popular?
Nikolai is more popular than Bogdan today: about 469 US babies were given the name Nikolai in 2025, compared with 34 named Bogdan.
What is the difference between Nikolai and Bogdan?
Nikolai means Victory of the people (Slavic origin), while Bogdan means Given by God (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Nikolai or Bogdan?
In US records, Nikolai first appears in 1960 and Bogdan in 1954, so Bogdan has the longer recorded history.